Almost all parts of vanilla plant viz., stem, leaf, flower, bud, roots, pods etc were found to be attacked. Among the pests, white grubs were found to cause considerable damage followed by vanilla bug and shoot and leaf webber, while others were not at the economic level.
No serious pest attacking vanilla is noticed. However, a few caterpillars, earwigs, snails and slugs damage the tender parts of the plant. They may be controlled mechanically. Immature bean is dark green in colour.
Common Pests: Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects are the most frequent pests that afflict Vanilla Orchids. These pests suck the sap from the plant, weakening it and causing leaf yellowing and drop.
The major fungal diseases reported in vanilla are root rot, stem rot, stem blight, fruit rot, shedding of beans and shoot tip rot. Pathogenic fungi like Phytophthora, Fusarium and Sclerotium mainly cause these diseases.
In its home country, the vanilla flower, a pale-yellow orchid, is primarily pollinated by the Melipona bee, another native of Mexico. Vanilla is very particular about its pollination; each flower must be pollinated within its 24-hour blooming period or the flower will die and fall off.
A vanilla bean shortage in Madagascar, provider of 85 percent of the world's vanilla, and a decline in production elsewhere in the world have caused prices to jump. Meanwhile, demand for vanilla is growing, as consumers increasingly want natural ingredients in their candy bars, ice cream and cakes.
When taken by mouth: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. However, some people are allergic to vanilla. It might also cause headache and sleep problems (insomnia), especially for people who manufacture vanilla extract.
The vanilla plant can reach a height of 10–15 m (33–49 ft) in height and has an economic lifespan of approximately 10 years. The plant is native to Central America.
Vanilla flourishes in specific regions of the world, not everyone can produce quality vanilla. Ideally, it is grown at a latitude between 10 and 20° north and south and at an altitude of less than 700 m. The ideal temperature is between 20 and 30°.
Wilting and discoloration signal Vanilla Orchid distress; early detection is key. 🌱 Water carefully—over-watering and under-watering can both harm your orchid. Stable 80°F and indirect light are crucial for Vanilla Orchid health.
Vanilla orchid does not need much fertilizer.
At the beginning of summer, switch to a balanced fertilizer (N-P-K = 20-20-20). The application of a phosphorus-rich fertilizer can promote blooming in fall.
Safari is an excellent broad spectrum pesticide. Distance is an expensive insect growth regulator that will prevent juvenile scale from maturing. Safari or something similar in combination with Distance will eliminate scale from your orchids.
Masking Odors: Vanilla extract can help deter mosquitoes by masking the odors that attract them, such as sweat and carbon dioxide. Its strong scent may confuse mosquitoes and reduce their ability to locate hosts for a blood meal.
🌱 Vanilla attracts various herbivores like deer, rabbits, and squirrels; protect your plants!
No Pesticide Residues: One of the primary advantages of organic vanilla extract is the absence of pesticide residues. Conventional organic vanilla beans may contain trace amounts of pesticides, which can be a concern for those seeking to minimize their exposure to synthetic chemicals.
Among the pests, white grubs were found to cause considerable damage followed by vanilla bug and shoot and leaf webber, while others were not at the economic level.
Vanilla plants prefer good bright light but not hot, noonday sun. However, they won't grow well or flower in deep shade so partial sun is what they need.
Harvesting. The beans or pods are ready for harvest 6-9 months after flowering. The beans can be considered as mature when they change from green to pale yellow. At this time, the pods may be 12-25 cm long.
Unlike cooking with wine, which can leave behind detectable traces of alcohol, the alcohol content in vanilla extract is negligible and typically evaporates during cooking. A lot of Islamic scholars agree that as long as the alcohol used is not derived from grapes or dates, it is permissible to use vanilla extract.
Takeaways. Vanilla is a popular flavoring and fragrance that also has many health benefits. Vanilla has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can calm infants and adults. It may be able to reduce anxiety and depression in people, but so far, this has just been studied in rodents.
The second main problem is that, as we discussed with the coffee beans, subjecting vanilla beans to high temperatures and pressures destroys the complex and delicate flavor profile of excellent vanilla beans. The result, even if excellent beans are used, is a flat and sometimes cooked flavor profile.
In 2023, Top importers of Vanilla are European Union ($205,068.89K , 1,204,600 Kg), United States ($194,351.54K , 1,283,430 Kg), France ($131,196.64K , 812,432 Kg), Germany ($49,688.05K , 397,141 Kg), Netherlands ($38,567.59K , 227,169 Kg).
“Vanilla is a highly profitable crop with cured beans, worth $250 to $600 a kilogram,” said Xingbo Wu, a plant breeder and geneticist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center.
The Impact of Extreme Weather on Vanilla Cultivation
Madagascar has been increasingly battered by extreme weather events, including cyclones, droughts, and erratic rainy seasons. Vanilla bean orchids are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, making farming ever more challenging.